First pic of Charles and Camilla

**Shane** · 30th September 05, 03:14 PM

While doing some unrelated research I discovered the tartan and origin of the kilt worn by Prince Charles in his engagement photos.
The tartan is in fact King George VI's personal tartan. The kilt and sporran actually belonged to George VI himself. Prince Charles is George VI's grandson and inherited these and several other items (read castles) after George's death.

Shane

**An t-Ileach** · 1st October 05, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

... Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, thought of herself as Scottish...

Hi, Todd,

I've only just picked up on this thread 'cos of Shane's posting today.

I know who one identifies with is an important denominator, but I would have thought that the late Queen Mother had a good start on being Scottish as Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, growing up (largely, until she came out) at Glamis Castle.

**macwilkin** · 1st October 05, 04:17 AM

Originally Posted by Shane

While doing some unrelated research I discovered the tartan and origin of the kilt worn by Prince Charles in his engagement photos.
The tartan is in fact King George VI's personal tartan. The kilt and sporran actually belonged to George VI himself. Prince Charles is George VI's grandson and inherited these and several other items (read castles) after George's death.

Shane

Shane, do you have your source handy?

know who one identifies with is an important denominator, but I would have thought that the late Queen Mother had a good start on being Scottish as Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, growing up (largely, until she came out) at Glamis Castle.

David,

Oops, I didn't explain myself very well, did I? ;)

I should have said that HM the Queen Mother always identified with Scotland and her Scottish roots; besides the Black Watch, she was also Colonel-in-Chief of the London Scottish, and reportedly told an Afrikaaner woman in South Africa in the 1990's when she complained about the "snobishness" of the English, "that's all right -- we feel that way in Scotland as well!" :mrgreen:

T.

**Hamish** · 1st October 05, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by Casey

Well at least Charles looks good in a kilt. Love the coordinating colours.

Not quite co-ordinated, Casey! Camilla should have worn brown gloves (and shoes?) to match Charles' sporran if they had wished to be co-ordinated!

**Graham** · 1st October 05, 05:46 AM

Hamish, I felt sure you would say something about the tie Charles was wearing!

**Hamish** · 1st October 05, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Martin

I don't know how many kilts he owns bubba, but I think it's a fair few. He has been a keen kilt-wearer since he was a boy. He doesn't only wear a kilt when he feels he ought to. He wears them casually too.

I know he has received many kilts as gifts during his travels. That alone is enough to put a smile on his face!

Every word is true, Martin. However, Charles wears the kilt, casually or formally, ONLY when he is in Scotland unless he is undertaking an official engagement elsewhere in his capacity as Colonel in Chief of a kilted regiment. I hadhat from members of his personal Staff whom I have known for years.

**Hamish** · 1st October 05, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Graham

Hamish, I felt sure you would say something about the tie Charles was wearing!

Well Graham, I certainly do not like his tie with that ensemble. However, it appears to be a military regimental tie and he might have been attending an event connected with that regiment when the picture was taken. Since I have no knowledge whatsoever of matters 'military' or 'regimental' (other than another meaning of the word! ;) ) I am unable to comment further ...... much as I should like to.

**Graham** · 1st October 05, 06:50 AM

Thanks Hamish, well I suppose that we should be happy that his first official piccie should be taken while kilted, regardless of whatever else we might think about the Royal pair.

**macwilkin** · 1st October 05, 07:10 AM

The tie is a regimental tie, the Gordon Highlanders to be exact, since the Duke of Rothesay was Colonel-in-Chief of the Gordons before their amalgamation in 1994. (now the Highlanders) Charles has always been fond of the Gordons and frequently wears the tie.

Very appropriate for a Scottish wedding, a Scottish regimental tie.

Cheers,

Todd

**Shane** · 1st October 05, 08:21 AM

Todd,

I gathered this info from two books.

The Story of the Royal Family by Don Coolican shows a photo of Charles
wearing this kilt and sporran on his 30th birthday in Nov 1978. The caption refers to the items as having belonged to George VI. The caption also refers to the tartan as Hunting Stewart. It quite obviously is not. I believe the writer was confused by the fact that it is the Royal Stewart tartan with a green base instead of red. Normally this would mean a hunting tartan, but as we all know Hunting Stewart is something quite different.

The second book is Tartans by Brenda Ralph Lewis. This book shows over 300 tartans each with its own little history, most of them wildly inacurrate. She was obviously quite taken in by the Sobieski-Stewart brothers. However, towards the back there is a section on Royal Tartans and it shows King George VI's personal tartan. It is quite obviously the tartan that Charles wears in his engagement photo and in the photo from his 30th birthday.

I will attempt to post a scan (for reference only) from the Coolican book.

Shane